Ch.IX. south AMERICA. 277 



being joined by other nations, they return in fuch 

 numbers, that all refiftance would be temerity, and 

 again take pofleffion of their former habitations. 

 Thus Chili has always been expofed to their infults ; 

 and if a very few only call for a war againft the Spa- 

 niards, the flame immediately fpreads, and their mea- 

 fures are taken with fuch fecrecy, that the firft decla- 

 ration of it is, the murder of thofe who happen to be 

 among them, and the ravages of the neighbouring 

 villages. Their firft ftep, when a war is agreed on, is, 

 to give notice to the nations for affembling ; and this 

 they call Correa la Fletcha, to fhoot the dart, the 

 fummons being fent from village to village, with the 

 utmoll filence and rapidity. In thefe notices they Ipe- 

 cify the night when the irruption is to be made, and 

 tho' advice of it is fent to the Indians who refide in the 

 Spanilb territories, nothing tranfpires : nor is there a 

 fingle inftance, among all the Indians that have been 

 taken up on fufpicion, that one ever rpade any difco- 

 very. And as no great armaments are neceflfary in this 

 kind of war, their defigns continue impenetrable till 

 the terrible executions withdraw the veil. 



The Indians of the feveral nations being affembled, 

 a general is chofen, with the title of Toqui and 

 when the night fixed on for executing their defigns 

 arrives, the Indians who live among the Spaniards, 

 rife and mafTacre them. After which they divide 

 themfelves into fmall parties, and deflroy the feats, 

 farm-houfes and villages, murdering all without the 

 leaft regard to youth or age. Thefc parties afterwards 

 unite, and in a body attack the larger fettlcments of 

 the Spaniards, befiege the forts, and commit every 

 kind of hoftility and their vaft numbers, rather than 

 any difcipline, have enabled them, on feverai occafions, 

 to carry on their enterprizes with fuccefs, notv/ith- 

 ftanding ail the meafures taken by the Spanifh gover- 

 nors to prevent them. For tho' multitudes of them 

 ftll on thefe occafions, their army continually receives 



T 3 largei- 



